The California Rice Commission successfully renewed its Waterbird-focused Regional Conservation Partnership Program (Waterbird RCPP) in 2025, and applications are now being accepted.
There are two RCPP-specific application deadlines in 2026:
January 23 and April 10
Please visit your local NRCS office to apply.
Important Notes
- You may apply for any available practice at either RCPP-specific deadline.
- Most funding for this fiscal year is expected to be obligated through applications received by January 23. As a result, limited funding may remain for applications submitted by the April 10 deadline.
- Applications that are not funded will be retained for consideration in the following year.
- Existing applications: If you already have an open RCPP application with NRCS, you must contact your local NRCS office to confirm that you want it considered during this application period.
Available Practices (including, but not limited to)
- High Intensity Water Management – Winter flooding for 90 days with variable drawdown starting February 10
- Seasonal flooding with gradual drawdown – Shallow flooding for 3-4 weeks between July and September
- Residue management with Boards-in – One disk pass followed by placing boards in water boxes from November to February
- Cover crops – Retaining cover (cover crop or volunteer veg) from winter into spring nesting season
To apply, please visit your local NRCS office.
If you have questions, especially if you are considering cover crop retention for breeding birds, please contact Kristin Sesser, Wildlife Programs Manager for the California Rice Commission, at (916) 607-8988 or ksesser@calrice.org.
Local NRCS offices
| Counties | Address | Phone number |
| Butte | 150 Chuck Yeager Way, Oroville, CA 95965 | 530-534-0112 |
| Colusa | 100 Sunrise Blvd Suite D, Colusa, CA 95932 | 530-458-5131 |
| Glenn | 132 N Enright Ave, Willows, CA 95988 | 530-934-4601 |
| Placer, Sutter, Yuba | 1521 Butte House Rd, Suite A, Yuba City, CA 95993 | 530-671-0850 |
| Sacramento | 9701 Dino Dr, Suite 190, Elk Grove, CA 95624 | 916-582-6637 |
| Yolo | 221 W Court St, Suite 3B, Woodland, CA 95695 | 530-662-2037 |
